Biodegradable Double Cone Filter with Differential Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood filters used to prevent pulmonary embolisms are often left in the body vessel after their utility has passed, leading to unintended consequences, as their removal requires a secondary procedure that many patients avoid.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable double cone filter with a superior and inferior ring structure and connectors, where the connectors degrade faster than the rings, allowing the filter to transition from a filtering state to an open state and eventually be absorbed by the body without the need for a secondary surgical procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a filter is left in the body vessel after its utility has passed, then the filter structure remains intact, but unintended consequences occur and the filter cannot be easily removed
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure undergoes parameter changes through biodegradation, where the connectors progressively degrade over time to transform the filter from a closed filtering state to an open state, eventually leading to complete dissolution and elimination of harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The filter transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one through the degradation process, where connectors gradually break down to allow the filter to open and eventually be completely removed from the body vessel without secondary procedures
2Reliability
If the filter structure is made rigid to maintain filtering capacity, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but the filter cannot accommodate natural body movements
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is segmented into multiple components (superior ring, inferior ring, and connectors) that can move relative to each other, allowing the structure to flex and accommodate body movements while maintaining filtering capacity through the interconnected ring and connector architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The filter incorporates dynamic characteristics through its connector design, allowing relative movement between the superior and inferior rings to accommodate natural body movements while maintaining structural integrity and filtering effectiveness during the operational period
3Ease of operation
If the filter is designed to be completely biodegradable, then no secondary removal procedure is needed, but the filter may lose structural integrity before completing its filtering function
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into segments with different degradation rates - the connectors are designed to degrade at a controlled rate slower than the rings, ensuring structural integrity is maintained during the filtering period while still enabling complete eventual removal without secondary procedures
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the filter have different local qualities in terms of degradation rate - the connectors have faster degradation characteristics than the rings, creating a staged degradation process that maintains strength when needed and enables removal when the filtering function is complete
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The filter provides temporary filtering capacity, is flexible to accommodate natural body movements, and is completely removed from the body over time, preventing long-term unintended consequences.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of connectors may have a second degradation rate greater than or faster than the first degradation rate such that the connectors degrade before the superior and inferior rings
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The present disclosure provides for a double cone filter and a delivery apparatus for deploying the filter within the body. The filter may have superior and inferior rings connected to each other by a plurality of connectors. The rings may have a first degradation rate, and the connectors may have a second degradation rate. The second degradation rate may be faster than the first degradation rate, such that the connectors degrade faster than the rings. In this way, the filter has a filtering state when the connectors are present. After the connectors degrade or partially degrade, the rings may relax against the vessel wall in an open state. After a sufficient length of time, the rings also degrade such that the filter is completely removed from the body.